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Brewers relievers
Short relief: Right-hander Eric Gagne, who was 2-0 with 16 saves and a 2.16 ERA with Texas but 2-2 with a 6.75 ERA and three blown saves with Boston in 2007, is the closer. Derrick Turnbow (RH, 4-5, 4.63 ERA, one save, 84 strikeouts in 68 innings) is the primary set-up man.
Rest of bullpen: David Riske (RH, 1-4, 2.45 ERA, four saves in 65 games with Kansas City); Salomon Torres (RH, 2-4, 5.47 ERA, 12 saves in 56 games with Pittsburgh); Guillermo Mota (RH, 2-2, 5.76 ERA in 52 games with the New York Mets); Brian Shouse (LH, 1-1, 3.02 ERA, one save in 73 games); Seth McClung (RH, 0-1, 3.75 ERA in 14 appearances).
Gone: The Brewers lost star closer Francisco Cordero (2.98 ERA, 44 saves) and relievers Scott Linebrink and Ray King to free agency after last season.
Oops: Milwaukee and Gagne agreed to terms on a $10 million, one-year contract on Dec. 10. Three days later, former Sen. George Mitchell released his report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball; Gagne was cited for receiving two shipments of human growth hormone in 2004 -- when he pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers Mota was suspended for the first 50 games of the 2007 season for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
Point to ponder: Turnbow held opponents to a .183 batting average, tied for third in the major leagues with 33 "holds" and did not allow a run in 62 of his team- and career-high 77 appearances in 2007. He also issued 46 walks in 68 innings and allowed 12 of his 14 inherited runners to score.
Keep an eye on: Riske, who had 70 saves in his first five minor league seasons, has averaged 59 appearances over his last six seasons. He had a 1.67 ERA from May through September last year ... LH Mitch Stetter was 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in six appearances with Milwaukee as a September call-up last season.
Did you know? Gagne was the game's top closer from 2002-04, converting 152-of-158 save opportunities, including a record 84 straight. A three-time All-Star during that span, he won the 2003 National League Cy Young Award.
